A greenhouse used to grow raspberries that also doubles as a scenic spot is among other new constructions in the area.

Ma Xuexia, a 30-year-old employee at this ecological park, as the dual-purpose greenhouse is known by the company that built it, settled in Minning from southern Ningxia in 2015 with nine members of her family.

Speaking about the conditions in Guyuan, she said, "We had to fetch water from one place, conserve it in pits for a month, and when it ran out, we had to refill the pits."

The lack of adequate groundwater can be a leading cause of poverty.

Wen Qi, a professor at Ningxia University's School of Resources and Environment, said drinking water safety is a key reason driving large-scale resettlements in the region.

He said low-earning conventional agriculture has made way for modern methods such as greenhouses, in the hope of raising income. But with this, those who have been resettled have had to adjust their work schedules, from seasonal field activities to year-round production processes.

"We still need to create more types of industry for the environmental migrants. They need to know where they can work. The industries need to connect them better to employment opportunities," Wen said.